WATTS CEMETERY, Down Lane, Compton
Compton Parish Council
R E G U L A T I O N S
These regulations should be read in conjunction with the current relevant British Standardand NAMM codes of good practice.
1 / General
(a) / The Cemetery is owned, managed and maintained by Compton Parish Council. As available space is very limited, only residents within the Civil Parish of Compton at the time of their death or those who purchased a plot while they were resident have a right of burial in the Cemetery. Compton Parish Council may however, at their discretion in very special circumstances, also grant permission for burial therein of other persons. There is now an opportunity for people outside the Parish to scatter ashes at the Cemetery. Please refer to the Parish Clerk for details
(b) / The cemetery is a place for peace and reflection. No electronic or recording devices, dogs or picnicking are allowed. Visitors must remove all refuse or place it in the bins provided.
(c) / Compton Parish Council is responsible for the general care and maintenance of the Cemetery including planting but individual graves or cremation plots should be maintained by the relatives of the deceased. Planting should only be within curb sets and must be well maintained. If not, the area within the kerb set will be grassed over. Flowers and bulbs may only be planted with the permission of the Parish Clerk.
(d) / Those wishing to plant a lasting tribute or provide a permanent memorial (e.g. in the form of a bench) should seek the advice of the Parish Clerk before applying to the Parish Council.
(e) / A vase for fresh flowers is permitted but artificial flowers are not. Any fresh flowers, vases or wreaths etc. will be removed by the Parish Clerk or appointed representative when they become unsightly.
(f) / Cloister – Because of the existing historical connection with the present plaques in the cloister, and in order that there be no discrimination from any future applications, a decision has been taken to add no more plaques to the present collection.
2 / Procedures for the erection of memorials on graves and cremation plots
(a) / Those considering placing a memorial should contact the Parish Clerk in the first instance (contact details below)
(b) / Every application to erect a memorial must be made in writing to the Parish Clerk on the authorised form for consideration by the Parish Council or their nominated representative.
(c ) / Applications must show the size and design of the memorial, materials to be used and any other relevant details (see item 3 below)
(d) / No memorial shall be erected or placed in the Cemetery or be removed from it and no work shall be carried out in it without the permission of an authorised representative of the Parish Council. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that their agents comply with this.
(e) / Headstones must not be placed in the ground for at least six months following burial, thereby allowing time for the soil to settle and ensuring that the headstone will remain
upright.
(f) / In the event of any memorial being erected or placed without the above consent, those responsible may be required to remove the same and pay any legal or other costs which might be involved
3 / Designs of memorials for graves
(a) / A simple headstone or cross with or without a kerb set is permitted. The headstone or cross may not be more than 105 cm (3ft 6in) high (including the height of the plinth), 90cm (3ft) wide and 10cm (4in) thick. No grave shall include any railings, ledgers, loose chippings, figure statuary or photographs. Memorials must have a one-piece purpose-made foundation, the whole of which must be no more than 2 ½ cm (1-inch) wider than the memorial stone. Where stone abuts stone, non-ferrous dowels must be used to prevent movement.The whole of the foundationmust be a minimum of 2" below ground and because of the nature of the sloping ground this may require special consideration to the design. Problems have occurred in the past and so consultation is advised.
(b) / MaterialMemorials must be made of unpolished weathering natural stone, slate or terracotta but not black or white marble or any synthetic material. Care must be taken to see that these blend with the Watts setting and locality.
4 / Plaques for cremation plots
(a) / Plaques may be no larger than 45cm x 30cm (18 ins x 12ins) and sunk so that a mower can pass over without damage to the stone or the mower.
(b) / Any natural unpolished stone, slate or terracotta may be used except white or black marble. No synthetic material or photographs are permitted.
5 / Inscriptions on memorials
(a) / Appropriate details of the deceased may be inscribed on memorials.
(b) / No advertisement or trade mark shall be inscribed on any memorial except that the name of the mason may be inscribed low down on the side or reverse of the stone in unpainted or unleaded letters no larger than 1.25cm (1/2 inch) in height.
6 / Grave digging
(a) / Funeral Directors will be held responsible for the work of the grave digger they employ. They must ensure that the grave digger will work closely with the Caretaker in order to leave the area tidy.
(b) / New soil must be placed on ground sheets and not on surrounding grass. Excess soil must be placed neatly at the point indicated by the Caretaker.
(c) / The grave digger must replace soil on the grave leaving only a small hump which will in due course settle flat and level with the original surface.
(d) / If more than one person is to be buried in one plot, the Funeral Director should be informed at the time of the first burial, and the Parish Clerk for cremation plots.
Parish Clerk:Ms Joanna Cadman, Rumbeams Cottage, Ewhurst Green, Nr Cranleigh, GU6 7RR
Telephone: 01483 268627Watts cem Regs ML:05/07